Steady Days Review & Giveaway
If you read any of the blogs I read regularly, most of you are probably already in the know about the release of Jamie Martin's new book Steady Days: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional Motherhood. Since the official launch two weeks ago reviews of Jamie's book have been featured at Small Notebook, zen family habits, and Simple Mom. Now I'm adding my voice to the chorus of mommy bloggers in praise of this book.
A few months ago I had a conversation with a friend about baby schedules, the toddler years, setting the tone in your home and general at-home mommyhood. I shared with her all I could remember of those years; establishing a routine, how to get stuff done around the house, toddler friendly activities and my overall mothering philosophy. But I was wishing I could recommend a book to her. Something that could encourage her in her career as a mother and give very practical tips for making it work. This, my friends, is that book.
Book Review
If I was going to write a book with a "you can do it" message and "here's some hands-on ideas to help you" this is what it would look like. Having been a mother for almost 12 years myself and choosing from the beginning to make this my profession, I have already learned and applied many of the organizational principles Jamie discusses. But I was very encouraged by her overall message and especially appreciated the wisdom found in the retaining enthusiasm section of the book.
Jamie wrote this book in forty, very short, easy to read chapters that are divided into 4 overall sections:
- Getting Organized
- Retaining Enthusiasm
- Learning Together
- Making Memories
In each of these sections she generously gives both inspiration AND very practical tips for becoming a better mother, regardless if you are a SAHM, work outside the home mother (don't know the short hand for that one) or some combination thereof. If you are a mom getting started on this exciting journey, wanting to know how to mother in a more joyful, organized, and meaningful way I highly recommend this book.
One of the messages I took away was the reminder to feed my own intellect and creative spirit. To seek those things that inspire me as a person and professional, that I may then inspire these three beautiful people whose education and upbringing I am largely responsible for. Another thing I really appreciated about this book was the affirmation that I am the expert in my home; not a magazine article, a parenting book or my favorite mommy blogger.
To conclude this short review, that doesn't quite do the book justice, I'd like to leave you with a quote from the book, "Professionalism is not about achieving a desired result but is about living with purpose and focus. When we live with intention, we invest in our future and the future of our children."
If you want to be purposeful about motherhood I think this book is a great place to start.
Giveaway!
Want to get your hands on a copy? You can buy one at Amazon (I don't make any money if you do), or you can enter a giveaway here for one signed copy of Steady Days.
To enter your name please leave a comment saying one thing you appreciate about your own mother. Mothers, fathers, children; anyone is eligible to enter and this book would make a great gift for a mother of young children in your life.
Giveaway ends Sunday, January 31st at 9pm E.T. Comments will be closed then and I will randomly draw a name.
PS. I forgot to mention that Jamie blogs (on the same themes as she presents in her book) at Steady Mom. Good stuff, you should check it out.
I appreciate the fact that my
I appreciate the fact that my mom took a few years "off" to stay home with us and homeschool us through elementary school.
My mom is my best friend.
My mom is my best friend. She's been there for me through thick and thin and is still standing. She's faced so much adversity and still holds her head high. I don't know what I'd do without my mom, she's always there for me, no matter what. That's what I appreciate about my mom, she's always there. This book looks amazing! I'd love to win a copy :-) Thanks so much!
Oops! I am grateful that my
Oops! I am grateful that my mom took time to teach me good coping and good communication skills. I also appreciate that she always explained to me the "why" behind what she did. She was rational and practical and it meant that, in spite of some strict rules, we never had many clashes of will, even during my teen years.
I appreciate all the time my
I appreciate all the time my mother gave to me (homeschooling us)--making herself available and never making me feel that any of my incessant 'why' questions were a bother!
I appreciate that my mom
I appreciate that my mom encouraged independence in us and made us strong.
Everything that I really love
Everything that I really love to do, my mother was the first to teach me.. from gardening, to cooking, to playing outside. She taught me about simplicity, love, care, and nurturing. These are skills I continue to cultivate and appreciate.
My sister-in-law is in labor
My sister-in-law is in labor right now with her first baby! I'm going crazy sitting by the phone waiting to here all the details as they live in a tiny town in Idaho and I'm all the way in Seattle. When my two nephews were born it was a huge family event. My grandmother, mother, sisters, moms best friend and a whole host of nurses and doctors were by her side every step of the way - and we still are all there as she raises her boys. It feels so bizarre that none of that is happening for my brother and his wife. They're on their own out there in tiny town Idaho and we're all nervous for them as first time parents.
But back to what you really wanted to know...I appreciate that my mother raised us without a tv and very little sugar. We ate fresh foods from our garden and she required us to have extra-curricular activities outside the home. And I'm proud of her for doing all that and raising four kids while working and going back to school.
Since I don't have kids myself I'm not the best chooser of parenting books. This one sounds fantastic! I want to give it to my sister-in-law even more after your review as I really like your life and parenting philosiphies. Great contest!
i would love a copy of this
i would love a copy of this book! congrats, jamie!
and what a nice review, renee!
nicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com
Thanks for the chance to win;
Thanks for the chance to win; this looks like a very good book. One of my favorite things about my mother is how she supported our interests. When she saw I was interested in science, she found science camps for me, and gave me a chemistry set (and trusted me to use it), etc.
Thank you for hosting this
Thank you for hosting this giveaway. I would love to read this book! I appreciate that my mother encouraged us to try so many extra curricular activities. We were always doing interesting things after school like gymnastics and piano lessons.
Sounds like a great read!
Sounds like a great read! And, I could use some help. :-) I appreciate the years that my mother stayed at home with us.
My mother was always there
My mother was always there for me - teaching me, guiding me,and encouraging me.
i am thankful that my mom
i am thankful that my mom helped us understand the value of eating healthy. i feel like it a gift for life that i now pass along to my kids.
My favorite thing about my
My favorite thing about my mom is that she gives thoughtful advice w/out being judgmental.
I appreciate my Mom for
I appreciate my Mom for teaching me how to cook. I never realized that being taught to be a good cook didn't happen to everyone when they were younger. When I got into my 20's and moved out and friends were amazed that I could cook the perfect turkey or roast or pasta sauce it hit me that I was really lucky to have had years of practice by the time I was 20! Even now when she comes to visit and sees how I've tweaked her old recipes or created my own she is still gives me great and useful tips.
My mom raised 5 kids,
My mom raised 5 kids, spanning 13 years. She stayed at home with us and always let us get involved in anything we wanted to attempt, from dog training to guitar playing to scouting. She also knew the value of appreciating our environment and we each have passed that on to our own children. She's an amazing woman.
This book looks like it has much to share-I'd love to have a copy for my collection!
What a great book! I have to
What a great book! I have to say my mom is the most determined woman in the world. She has strong values and never lets anything hold her back. I hope I win :-)
I am most grateful to my
I am most grateful to my mother for teaching me how to be strong, caring, supportive,loving and the fact that when i moved to the other side of the world i was more then capible to take care of myself and my future husband! She is an amzing woman! Shes taught me so much!
I am thankful that my mother
I am thankful that my mother cared consistantly--through good and bad times---she always cared for us. It means so much to me now when there are weeks as a mother and I think "I just need a week off (but a few weeks off would be really great!)"
I am grateful to my mother
I am grateful to my mother for encouraging me, every day, to be who I am, to be who I want to be, to pursue my dreams, and to live life the way I want to.
My momma's been gone for
My momma's been gone for seven years now but her influence lives on! She believed in me and I felt safe with her; each of us, her twelve children, felt well-loved and "special" with her. She loved fiercly and was passionate and had a special affinity for people who were rejected by others - in our town it was usually the native women. We often had "stray" kids or people sleeping on our couches and my parents adopted four children. After reading this book I'd pass it on to my little sister who just had her first child.
Dang girl you have alot of
Dang girl you have alot of readers!
My mom has always been ultra supportive of my various adventures...and there've been a lot of them! I wouldn't have been able to believe in myself as much if she hadn't been behind me quietly cheering me on.
geesh - all those great
geesh - all those great mothers! I appreciate my mom's willingness to spend hours toting me to orchestra every week from when I was 5 up until I could drive myself. Now she's doing the same for my 5 year old.
My mom was willing to do what
My mom was willing to do what she believed was best for us, even though it meant tremendous sacrifice on her part. As just one example, she homeschooled us (seven of us!)because the local public school did not meet her standards. She always acted upon what she believed was best for the family.
I am grateful that my mom
I am grateful that my mom didn't give up despite incredible adversity in her life...and that she has always tried her best to cling to God.
I can think of the top 3.
I can think of the top 3. Growing up she always told me that nothing could separate her love from me, nothing I could ever do could make her stop loving me. She also used to let me cry as long as I wanted to on her shoulder in those moments of frustration and used to tell me to get it all out. And as an adult, the thing I appreciate most is how she never seems to tire as my sounding board on all things. She always has the time to listen.
Holy cow, just one thing?
Holy cow, just one thing? There are a million, but what has always inspired me is her patience. Truly, the patience of a saint.
The thing that I appreciate
The thing that I appreciate the most about my mother is her sense of humor. Thank you for your review of the book.
One of the many things I
One of the many things I appreciate about my mom is that she took us out in the woods, beaches an mountains. We went camping, hiking, biking and white water rafting. Not bad for a single mom. I credit her for my love and connection with nature. I hope I can do that for my kids.
Sounds like a lovely book, thanks for doing the giveaway!
I appreciate that my mom is
I appreciate that my mom is there for me now even though she never was when I was growing up and that for the first time in my life we are able to co-exhist.
This books sounds fantastic I would love to read it!
I appreciate the strength,
I appreciate the strength, patience and love it took for my mother to stay at home and raise my 6 siblings and I.
I hope I can be the same light to my five daughters as she was, and continues to be, to us.
*Steady Days seems like a fantastic read! It is definitely on my wish list.
Must read this book! There
Must read this book!
There are lots of things I love about my mom, but one thing I've been thinking about lots lately is how she instilled in me a love of language--especially playing with words. Language is a good game to the women of my family, and that's a gift.
My mom is a very caring and
My mom is a very caring and compassionate person. I've always appreciated that about her.
If I have to choose only one
If I have to choose only one thing to appreciate about my Mother than it would be her indefinite trust in me. It made a better person.
Kind. Generous. Crafty. She
Kind. Generous. Crafty. She loves me unconditonally.
The thing I appreciate most
The thing I appreciate most about my mother is her fearlessness, her ability to simply go out and do something difficult just because she believes it is right. Even now, at 80 years old, she still inspires me to try the things I am afraid to try.
This sounds like awonderful book, olne that any mother would love to have.
What I truly appreciate about
What I truly appreciate about my mother is her respect for our different parenting styles. Due to personality differences, our styles look very different. She is always so complimentary to me and how I am raising her grandchildren. She eagerly discusses new ideas in childrearing and child safety. Rather than feeling like her way was not good enough, she sees the enthusiasm I have for my children. She and I talk every day, usually a couple of times. Her support has been wonderful through the years but never more vital than when I stepped off the cliff into the parenting abyss.
My Mom is the most generous
My Mom is the most generous person I know. She hears every need and want that I might mention and tries to take care of it for me. As an adult, it sure is nice to still be "mothered."
My mother has always been my
My mother has always been my best friend. There are so many qualities I appreciate and love about her. However, the first attribute that popped into my mind was her generosity. She is truly the most generous person I know. Others always notice this character trait first when meeting her. She's just the best. I pray to grow into her shoes some day!
My mother taught me how to
My mother taught me how to cook and crochet and the basics of hand-sewing- but most importantly, that raising a family and keeping a home should make one feel as proud as being the CEO of a company AND is an important career path. My mother stayed home with her three children until her youngest was in Kindergarten , went back to work briefly, and then decided that she wanted to be home for us. She found a way to make some money and be home with her kids after school, by becoming a licensed daycare provider. She only took on 2 or 3 children and they were seamlessly integrated into our family routine while in her care 8 hours a day. They too learned to cook and draw and the joys of imaginative play, thanks to my mom. Today, I am a stay at home mom who works 13 hours a week and I have my mother's example to thank for it. She empowered me to be brave enough to focus on my triumphs in the home versus in my out- of- the- home career. She encouraged me, through her example and support, to make the decision to put my family first- that jobs would be there if and when I wanted them- that the monetary sacrifices would not matter at all in the end. She was right.
my mom taught me how to keep
my mom taught me how to keep a tidy, creatively beautiful home, by her example, even to this day.
I love lots of books, but I
I love lots of books, but I think I NEED this one, as I have been struggling lately with the discrepancy between my personal ideas of motherhood and those that are played out (and preached at me) daily from the "outside-my-family" world.
My mom has broken her own molds many times...and taught me that it is never too late to find and develop a gift or talent or try a new path in life.
Thanks for this opportunity!
I think I've benefited most
I think I've benefited most from my mother's unconditional love. I'd love a copy of the book.
Wow, there sure are a lot of
Wow, there sure are a lot of entries, I was hoping there were just a few, so my odds were better! :o)
Well, for my mother, I admire her strength and desire to live her life to the fullest, despite what people want her to do or think she should be doing. I think that is awesome that she is choosing to make her happiness the most important part of her life. When we are happy, we can share happiness with others. When we love ourselves, we can love others.
This book looks so good -
This book looks so good - thank you for having a give-away.
Since having my own kids, I have been so deeply grateful to my mom for how she stays open to our different ways of raising them, for how willing she is to learn, support, and love us as we are, without feeling defensive that we have chosen such a different path. She is also the gramma (among three) who gets down on the floor, gives hours of full attention and as a result really has a relationship with my kids. Makes me cry to think of how wonderful that is.
(ps - my kitchen smells sooooo good of garlic right now; i was looking for a recipe for garlic oil for an ear infection and your post came up! thank you!)
Oh, you've sold me.
Oh, you've sold me. Especially on the "retaining enthusiasm" part...
As for my own mother, I'm grateful for her loyal spirit-- she has been a fierce and compassionate friend to those around her all my life-- and from that example I learned how to care for others, while not losing myself in the process. A gift, indeed.
I appreciate that my mother
I appreciate that my mother was a SAHM and that is what largely influenced my decision to be on too.
I have been eyeing this book that keeps popping up on all of the blogs I read and hoping to win a copy, but no luck so far! Maybe THIS will be the time! Thanks for the opportunity!
I am grateful for my mom's
I am grateful for my mom's constant support and encouragement throughout my life.
I do not know this book, but
I do not know this book, but think I would like to. This is one of the toughest jobs.
I appreciate my Mother for
I appreciate my Mother for her honesty - the good and the bad. She was a working Mother, just like me, and she has helped me get through the past 5 months of being away from my son at work. I couldn't imagine having a better role model than her!